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Improve Core Processes for Ordering Medications:
Use Standard Scales for Dosing High-Risk Drugs

Correct dosing of many high-risk drugs relies on critical parameters such as patient weight and laboratory values that reflect renal function. Pre-printed standard dosing scales can help staff members quickly select the appropriate dose according to these parameters. Once a prescriber orders the use of a standard scale, the scale is used to consistently determine all subsequent dosing.


Tips
  • Include calculation aids on the pre-printed scales so staff will not need to make any manual calculations for determining dosages.
  • Make sure your organization uses only one standard dosing scale (or as few scales as possible) per drug. The more versions of dosing scales that are in use, the greater the chance that staff members will make errors.
  • Program the dosing scales into a computer if your organization has the resources. The computer can perform all the necessary calculations.
  • Highlight the section of the dosing scale to use for a particular patient weight to make it easier for staff to determine dosing for a specific weight range.